Improvement in clothes-pounders



W. P. JENKINS. Clothes-Founder.

No. 222,054. Patehted Nov. 25,1879.

llliwl H nm 0 T N E V N I WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER F. JENKINS, OF FITHIAN, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-POUNDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,054, dated November25, 1879 application filed August 5, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER FINLEY JEN* mm, of Fithian in the county ofVermillion and State of Illinois, have invented a new and ImprovedClothes-Founder, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved machine, taken through theline :20 as, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a top view of the main stem. Fig. 3 is abottom view of the machine.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved machine forwashing clothes.

The invention consists in combining and constructing the parts ofapounderorclotheswasher as hereinafter described.

A is the outer case of the washer, which is made in the shape of aninverted funnel, and is provided, in the usual way, with a verticalcylindrical part, B, to enter the water, so that it may be raisedwithout lifting a quantity of water, and may thus be more easilyoperated. O is the inner case, which is made vertical or cylindrical inform, and its upper edge is secured to the outer case, A,'at or near themiddle parts of its inclined sides. The lower edge of the inner case, 0,does not extend down so low as the lower edge of the cylindrical part Bof the outer case, A. In the upper part of the inner case, 0, are formedair-holes c, to allow air to pass from within the inner case, 0, intothe space between the said inner case, 0, and the outer case, A B, toprevent suction when the machine is raised out of the water.

D is the main or central stem, which serves as a handle, and which ismadehollow or tubular, passes through and is secured in a hole in thetop or apex of the outer case, A, extends down a little below the upperedge of the inner'case, O, and is strengthenedinplace by the braces (1,attached to its lower end. The stem D is made in two parts-a longerlower'part and a shorter upper partwhich are connected by a joint. Theupper part of the hollow stem D is made larger than its lower part, andis slightly enlarged just above its lower end. This construction givesmore room for the three valves E, attached to the middle part of thethree-armed partition F. The three-armed partition F fits into the upperpart of the stem D, and divides its interior or cavity into three equalparts, so that each of the valves E may work independently of theothers.

I have described the hollow stem D as being provided with three valves,E, and a threearmed partition, F, and Iprefer that construction; but twovalves, E, or a number greater than two, may be used, the partition Fbeing modified accordingly to form a separate passage to and from eachvalve E, so that the obstruction of one valve will not interfere withthe working of the washer.

G are two side stems, which are made hollow or tubular, are about halfthe length of the main stem D, are smaller than the said main stem, andpass through and are secured in holes in the upper part of the outercase, A, upon the opposite sides of the main stem. D. The lower ends ofthe side stems, G, extend down a little below the upper edge of theinner case, 0, so as to be upon. a level with the lower end of the mainstem D. In the upper parts of the side stems, G, are secured valves H.

The valves E H all open downward, so that they will be closed by theair-pressure when the machine is forced downward into the water, andwill thus compress the air upon the clothes, removing the dirt from theclothes very quickly and very thoroughly. As the machine is raised thevalves E H open, so that it can be raised very easily and without anysuction.

I am aware that washers have been made that have a tubular handle orstem and an inverted funnel as a bottom. This I do not claim as myinvention; but, I

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a clothes-washer, the combination, with the hollow stem D, made withan enlarged upper part, of a set of valves, E, and a set of partitions,F, substantially as herein shown and described, so that the obstructionof one valve will not interfere with the working of the other.

WALTER FINLEY JENKINS.

Witnesses;

. M. R. STnARNs,

W. L. SPIOKLEMIRE.

